How Coupons Saved My Life
I am sharing a video with you today… a very personal video. A video I filmed back in 2012. A video I wasn’t ready to release.
Now I am ready. Ready to share my story. My story about addiction, depression, and how those little things called coupons have done so much more than save me money.
*Please keep in mind that this video may not be suitable for children.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTiPNJM7JU] If you can’t see the video, click here.
If you are currently suffering from drug addictions, food addictions and/or depression, I strongly encourage you to reach out to a friend or family member, doctor, counselor or pastor and seek help.
Thank you for sharing this! God bless!
I love your story! I’m a teacher and it makes me want to reach out even more to those struggling students. Thank you!
3 things I do every day without fail, 1. Kiss my husband, 2. hug my kids 3. Read hip2save.com. thank you for sharing such personal struggles. It’s not about the coupons. you bring out the best in your readers. I find such joy in calling my husband to tell him the deal i just got from hip2save to save our family of 7 money. Thank you. Truly, you’re amazing.
This made me smile! The amount of joy I get out of a good deal is insane. And I also love sharing that joy with others 🙂
Loved you since I started following your blog in 2008 and love you even more now! ((HUGS)). Thanks for sharing your story!
Collin- you are truly an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your truths. That is such a brave and courageous thing to do. The positive example you set for others is incredible. Blessings to you, your strength, your husband and your family!!
Thank you for sharing your story! You are such an inspiration! Thank you for all you do!
thanks so much for sharing! You and your site are amazing and I commend you for your honesty–it is so important to remember that everyone has struggles!! Hugs!
Wow, thank you for finding the courage to share this video… It was beatuful, so touching. Was in tears for most of it. You’re truly an inspiration Collin, and even though I’ve never met you, I can still say confidently that I love ya girl! 😊
As always, thanks for all you do!
Very Brave! Thank You for Sharing I am Sure This Touch Many People!!!
Thanks for sharing this! You have always been an inspiration and now more so than ever! You have truly touch my life all the way out here in FL! Keep it up! 🙂
My heart is full! 💛 this! Thanks for sharing 👍
Seriously cried the whole time! What a beautiful story! I feel like I know you after following you for so long. You’re a beautiful soul. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing! You are an inspiration to others…
Collin, you are amazing- beautiful inside and out. I follow your site every day and I can’t begin to tell you how much you have done for me and my family. You impact our lives in so many ways. Hugs and praise to you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Giving…that’s what life’s about…
So true!
😀
Collin, i’ve been following you pretty much since the beginning. Your honesty today is nothing short of amazing. You’re always so inspiring, both in content like this or just another trip to Target! I love watching, and learning and wish you the very best. Thanks for helping me coupon our way through a law degree, a round of IVF, and now raising twins! You are a part of our home! xxx
Could you please post and spell the name of the seizure you said on your video?? Thank you my daughter who is a twin and was born Premature and wears glases !! Has this little moments were she stares and is not aware of what she does or remembers it only happens once in a while for a few seconds have been to 2 neurologists had MRI ct scan and I need help !! Trying to figure out doctor put her in keppra but , I myself need more answers !? Thank you about your video , I been cuponing for 20 yrs and it has help me so much , it helps me focus on things ! That I can do to help others and math too which I was real bad in school too didn’t even graduate from high school, but, I have a wonderful job – I started cleaning offices at the age of 14 moved on to be a housewife and later clean houses – to taking care of elderly persons, all by word of mouth, I have tooked care of some many that in heaven now! I’m so bless to be able to still cupon and take care of my boss who’s 90 – and I was diagnosed with cancer had 2 surgery’s 5 months ago ! And on the second week after my surgery’s breast and hysterectomy I was back at cvs ! And in 5 weeks back to work – and I have only one breast haven’t even thought about a prosthesis or breast surgery yet ! I feel good and happy !! But , I’m commited to try to loose some weight ! But love all the deals you post got my garden full of roses Take care not everyone it’s perfect but we can always try!!
sounds like she said “petty mall seizures”?
did a search and found this “absence seizures petit mal (“PUH-tee mahl”) seizures, although that name is not common anymore”.
https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/absence-seizures
You are a gift to all that get o have you in there lives Super woman oxox to you
Edy, my son has epilepsy. He has Tonic Clonic, Complex partial (w/ or without second generalization), and absence seizures. He’s been on Keppra before too… a total nightmare. His learning has been impacted pretty significantly since the diagnosis, and that’s pretty common too.
Collin said “petit mal”, which is French for “small illness”, and is the same as absence seizures. They are actually quite common in children. Do they ever turn into a shaking type of seizures for your daughter? Like staring for a few seconds and then shaking? Most times there isn’t a cause for seizures, and it stinks because as parents we just want to fix the problem and cure our kids. It takes a certain strength to deal with epilepsy – for the children and parents. I told my son he was chosen for this because he’s strong enough to handle this. I told him EVERYONE has something in life. So by minimizing seizures he doesn’t stress about it, which can be a trigger.
Anyway, it sounds you are strong yourself! Stay strong, and coupon on! 🙂
Collin, I love your video. It pains me to hear the struggles you’ve endured. It’s frustrating to hear in your video how some responded to you with judgment or negativity even after you’ve shared your knowledge and giving spirit. You’re a great human being. I’m better for knowing you. it’s okay to make mistakes. It shows what you can accomplish from learning from them. Be kind to yourself. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. But since ya did, I like you even more. I wish I had a friend like you in my town. Oh wait, I do. I log on to your site daily. And when the day comes you hang up the website, it will be so sad. I wish you and your family all the happiness and best. Thanks for sharing.
Collin wow you are just such an amazing person!!!! You are just so wonderful!! I really just don’t even know the words to say to express how amazing you are. You really have helped so many people, and not only helped them, but had a HUGE IMPACT on their lives and have SAVED people. Your story is so amazing to hear, and I am glad you chose to share it with all of us!! I am so happy that you are feeling better now and are in a better place in life because you deserve it! I also think it’s so wonderful that your husband was so supportive of you. I am not married yet, but I believe that supporting each other through tough times is so important and I am happy you are with someone who fully supports you and stuck by your side. That shows what an amazing bond you guys have and just really what an amazing person you are! You are already such a huge inspiration and this video will just be an even bigger inspiration for people. This video was so inspiring to me!! I just think the world of you and am so thankful I found your site and so thankful for everything you have done and continue to do. Thank you so much!!! Thank you for sharing the video with us because I know this video will inspire others who may be going through a rough patch in life. Thank you for everything, you are just so amazing and always remember that!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Collin – You are my FAVORITE! I was just telling my husband how we are best friends, you just don’t know it yet. 😉 You are not only a coupon guru, but you are a brave woman to share your life so openly. We all struggle with things and it is refreshing to see that I’m not the only one with problems!
I struggled with drug addiction for 15 years and after I was sober I also “switched” to binging and purging. Most people keep these things a secret but I’m proud of who I am now and I think I’m a better person after going through all of it. It’s nice to see someone put it all out there and educate others that we’re ok now. Just like you other normal people! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your story. Coupons and Hip2Save have really helped me stay afloat during some difficult financial times.
Wow… thanks for sharing. I had no idea you had been through any of that. You are such a positive, beautiful person. Way to go! You deserve the best!
Thanks so much for sharing your story. You are so strong and brave! It’s inspiring. 🙂
This video touched me so much. Just today I have finally taken the first step to find my wait out of this depression I have been enduring for years. And when I came home from the doctor’s office I saw you had posted this video. And it spoke so much to me. I’m in a similar place you were in. And to think you’ve been able to become so happy gives me courage. I am overjoyed to see you have not only overcome your struggles but are thriving, touching many lifes, and most importantly enjoying your precious children. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope one day i can, too. I would have never thought in a million years you have been through what you’ve been through.
Collin, you are a ray of sunshine that has brightened so many lives, mine included. You are an amazing person with a beautiful spirit. I admire your honesty and boldness, but most of all your excitement for life! You are a strong woman and I appreciate all of the great things I have been able to do thanks to you. I first started following you six years ago. Since then and with a major thanks to Hip2Save, I have been able to move out of my parents’ home to another city with my boyfriend, gone back to school, and feel like a truly independent woman. Thank you for giving me the gift of understanding frugalness and the wonderful benefits of cutting corners where I can so that I can splurge on the things I want. You helped this 28 year old get her life to where it is at today. You are special! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, Collin, You are amazing!
Collin,
I remember one of the first times I found your blog spot blog and you had a Kmart receipt almost as tall as you from “doubles”. You have grown so much and it has been great having you as a go-to when my life got crazy and I didn’t have the time or energy to find the deals myself. You are wonderful, you are upbeat, you are real…and through helping and healing yourself you have helped so many. That is something YOU CAN do that many others can’t. Congrats on your successes and here is to many, many more!
thank you Collin for sharing. you are such an inspirational woman.
Your amazing !! You have helped me realize that I can overcome my debt and in doing that, I’m paying it forward to my family also! So thank you for doing what you do! I read hip2 save all day long and watch your videos! Thank you for allowing us into your life and that takes a lot of courage to be as open as that video was!!
Thank you SOOOO much for sharing. You’d helped more people than a brain can comprehend before sharing all of this, just imagine how many others you’ve helped with this video. I hope you feel some weight off your shoulders, it must have been a little stressful holding onto the video that long.
I think my favorite parts were about how ‘perfect’ everyone’s lives look on social media. I only do Pinterest, and even then I feel like everyone posts these quotes about how perfect their children are and how perfect their marriages are. Sometimes my mom will scroll thru her Facebook and it’s like- NO WAY are they always shiny, happy people all the time! My other favorite part: when you explain how hard it is to be unhappy when you’re blessed with kid(s). I feel like no one says that it’s possible to feel down (especially if you’re lucky enough to be a sahm- with the soap operas, bon-bons, naps…riiiiiight) when you have children. I think more people need to come out and say, ‘yep, I love my kids but I’ve been feeling like crap lately’, instead of all the happy, shiny quotes.
I had a totally different image of your life. I figured you’d married young (and then had kids) because your hubby was military. Following that, you’d spent a bit too much money, but then started this blog. Your biggest problem involved poop. Thank you for showing how human you are. You. Are. Beyond. Amazing. Seriously.
Thanks, Ashley! 🙂
You rock, Collin! What an amazing story – so glad you overcame all the ugly stuff and are able to enjoy life now!
I’m so happy that you found your passion and are sharing it with the world! Thanks!!!
Great video! Thank you for sharing it!
You are amazing and an inspiration!
It’s really special to hear this story. Thank you for being so real!
Collin, this was such a beautiful video. I normally don’t comment much but I felt so compelled to let you know how much admiration I have for you and all that you’ve been through. I check your site like 16 times per day and it’s not just because of the deals. It’s because you are truly beautiful inside and out and that’s why your readers come back for more. Thank you for all that you do!!!
You is kind, you is smart, you is important. That’s all I could think as I watched your unimaginable bravery and cried along with your struggles. Thank you for being willing to share what makes you normal in the cyber world of “perfection”.
You are an amazing, awesome and incredible human being… God bless you and your family!
I have ALL respect for you Collin. God bless you and your family. Your site has been my therapy sometimes 😊
If only more people could be open about their real life struggles, such as, depression.Thanks for posting the video. I am glad that you have become the beautiful, strong and inspirational woman you are today. Not all knowledge comes from textbooks, but from life experiences as well and God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors. <3
Colin,
I was so not ready for this video. It caught me off gaurd, I really just want to say Thank You for sharing such an intimate side. You are so right, I find myself so amazed sometimes at posts I see on FB, friends and family….people can really make their lives look so perfect. I’m very Thankful that you were able to overcome your addiction and your stuggle with depression. Some people really don’t understand despression, it is such a difficult complex issue. Thank You for not letting people’s comments to you stop you from doing what you do. People can be so mean and not even realize it. You are a ray of sunshine, with a beautiful smile. I can’t even explain how much you have helped me since I joined your blog. Thank You just doesn’t seem like its enough, but please know it comes from the heart. Such a helpful video. I liked you before, but now..even more!!
Hugs,
I think it is a testament to you the type of followers you attract; out of hundreds of comments I did not see a single negative one. You are an uplifting kind person and I very much appreciate you and your site (and your transparency to tell your story, although I haven’t actually watched it yet, my son is sleeping next to me so it will have to wait til tomorrow!)
You are so inspiring! Thank you
Thank you for being open and sharing your story, it really spoke to me and I can relate in some ways. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to help others. Thank you for all you do – I love your blog and check it multiple times a day. You have helped me save my family so much money and you are an inspiration! Much Love!
I am so proud of you!! It took courage to share your story which may help so many others. The reason I have always liked your site, is bec
ause you are so real. Thank you for that and thank you for Hip 2 Save 🙂
You are completely inspiring and amazing, Collin. I mean it with my heart. I know you don’t know me, but knowing you has improved my life for years now. I’m so grateful to know you’re not perfect, because I’m surely not. Your video brought me to tears. I want to thank you, thank you, thank you, for touching my life. You do everyday. Thank you.
Thank you Collin for sharing your story. You’re amazing and inspiring in many ways!
Thank you sooooo much for sharing! You have touched MORE people then you know. Thank you again!! Love your blog!!!
Thank you for sharing such a personal story.
So often we forget that just because someone is smiling, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t in pain. We are good at masking what we don’t want others to see. It takes a strong will to see deep inside of ourselves and take the step to make the changes necessary to make the smile on the outside, match the smile on the inside.
Keep smiling Collin, it is a beacon that is a welcome sight to this Hip2Saver!!
thank you for sharing your story Collin. You’re an inspiration for people who are struggling with addiction or depression. I always say that you need to face the ‘ugly’ in your life and let it go. You’re a beautiful person!